MINNEAPOLIS -- The Detroit Lions have played most of the third quarter here at the Metrodome without defensive end Cliff Avril, who is being evaluated for a possible head injury in the team's locker room.

Avril suffered the injury on the second play of the quarter and hasn't returned. Willie Young and Lawrence Jackson are playing in his place.

The Lions' bigger problem at the moment is a lack of points. They trail the Vikings 16-3 with five minutes, five seconds left in the quarter. They haven't converted any of their first seven third-down plays.